Is The White House's Asia Strategy All Talk And No Substance?

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, right, and Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping render honors during an arrival ceremony at the Pentagon, Feb. 14, 2012. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

Obama’s Asia Strategy Gives Navy Key Role, Fewer Ships -- Washington Post

As the Obama administration reorients its military strategy toward Asia and the vital maritime trade routes in the Pacific, the bulk of the responsibility will fall on the Navy, which was largely sidelined during the land wars of the last decade.

But the Navy will have to perform its mission in Asia with fewer ships in coming years than it had anticipated. Under President Obama’s proposed defense budget, the Navy will retire nine ships early and cut or delay the purchases of 16 others over the next five years.

Read me ....

My Comment: Not everyone is enthusiastic with this shift. As to what is my take .... I concur what many in Asia are saying .... China's military buildup is surpassing the defense budgets of all other Asian countries combined, thereby laying the groundwork for an arms race in the region. The U.S. simply does not have the resources (or will) to counter this Asian buildup, and sending a few ships into the region is not going to make a difference. What will make a difference is that U.S. naval forces will act as a trip-wire, a line in the sand that will tell countries like China on what is (and is not) permissible in U.S. eyes. If this policy from President Obama can then keep the peace .... kudos to him.